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(No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. w. SHONNARD.

DISTRIBUTION BOARD FOR ELECTRIC GURRENTS. No. 592,889.

Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

W0 Via/M (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

H. W. SHONNARD. DISTRIBUTION BOARD FOR ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

N0. 592,889. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

UNITED I STATES 'arnnr Fries.

HAROLD XV. SHONN ARD, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO J. JONES &

- SON, OF SAME PLACE.

DISTRIBUTION-BOARD FOR ELECTREC CURRENTS.

SFECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,889, dated November 2, 1897. Application filed November 1'7, 1896. Serial No. 612,402. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAROLD W. SHONNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Distribution-Boards for Electric Currents, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to distribution-boards for electric-light currents. Heretofore in these distribution-boards the straight main-circuit bars of the two, three, or more wire system were supported upon blocks in a raised-position above the Hat bars of the branch circuits and were alternately connected to said branch-circuit bars at the points of support, the branch-circuit bars being in turn secured to the insulating slab foundation. This construction is somewhat complex,wasteful of time, and expensive; and the object of my invention is to simplify the construction, lessen the cost, and reduce the number of parts.

I11 carrying out my invention I secure the main-circuit bars directly to and in proximity with the insulating slab foundation and in a plane paralled with the same, and simultaneously connect one part of the branch-eir cuit bars to the insulating slab foundation by the same connecting devices. The other parts of the branch-circuit bars are also directly connected to the insulating slab foundation;

lVhere the branch-circuit bars cross the main-circuit bars they are a continuous strip of sheet metal without joints, that is arched and passed over above said main-circuit bars a sufficient height to prevent any short cireuit or spark. With these devices I employ metal plates secured to the insulating slab foundation and forming terminals for the respective wires of the branch circuits, and between these plates and the branch-circuit bars I prefer to employ safety-fuses, and may also employ pivoted swinging switches.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view representing my improvement applied to a three-wire-system distribution-board. Fig. 2 is a section of the same at the line 00 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view representing my improvement as applied to a two-wiresystem distribution-board, and Fig. 4 is a plan of part of a three-wire-system distribution-board and showing two branch circuits and the three-wire branch bars from the three main bars of the system.

The insulating slab base, of slate or other suitable material,is shown at A, and throughout the drawings the main-circuit bars of the three-wire system are shown at a b c and those of the two-wire system at a Z).

In Figs. 1, 2, and 4 the branch-circuit bars are shown at d, e, and f.

The main-circuit bars ab 0 and the branchcircuit bars (Z c f are connected as shown and secured directly to and in proximity with the insulating slab foundation A by screws or screw-bolts 6 7. One of two ways may be employed to secure the main and branch circuit bars together and to the slab foundation viz., the bars 6 and f may be perforated and the screw-bolts 6 pass down through said bars and slab foundation, with the nut inthe recess'of the slab, or the bars cl (2 may be perforated and the bars a c be made with threaded holes, and screws 7 maypass upward through the slab foundation and bars d 6 into the bars a c. I, however, prefer the screws 6.

The bars f are each a continuous strip of sheet metal arched, as shown, at each side of their central portion and pass above and over the bars a c at a sufficient height to prevent short-circuitiug or sparks. The respective outer ends of the branch-circuit bars 01 cf are flattened and connected to the insulating slab foundation by screws 8, that preferably extend from the back through holes in said foundation and through said ends and nuts thereon clamp one to said bar ends and bind the parts in place.

The terminal plates m are secured to the slab foundation A by screws 9, which preferably extend from the back through holes in said foundation and said plates, and also clamp and hold the other ends of the safetyfuses is Z, and the short screws 10, with heads countersunk in the foundation, pass through the plates m, and these screws 10 secure the wires 2 3 and at 5 of the branch light-circuits.

I have shown and sometimes use the auxiliary terminal plates m and pivoted swinging switches 11. 0, of usual character, connected thereto and adapted to complete the electric end of the safety-fuses Z circuit with the branch-circuit plates,as shown in Fig. 1. These plates m are secured to the slab foundation in a manner similar to that shown in connection with the plates m.

The respective ends of the main-circuit bars a b c and a b are provided with connectors Z to receive the wires of the main circuit in making electric connection with said bars.

In Fig. 3 the branch-circuit bars 7L 'i of the two-wire system are each a continuous strip of sheet metal without joints, and are alike, but in reversed position-that is, the bars 7L contact with the bar 1) and extend up and over the bar a at their arched portion, and the bars 1' contact with the bar a and by their arched form extend over above the bar Z), screws or screw-bolts, as hereinbefore described, securingithe bars 2 and bar a and the bars h and bar h to the insulating slab foundation A, the other parts being the same as hereinbefore described under similar letters of reference.

In Fi g. 4 I have shown the three-wire branch bars a b c as connected at one end to the bars a Z) c and slab foundation A, the bars a and b being each a strip of sheet metal without joints, and the bar a being arched to extend over and above the bars I) and c, and the bar b being arched to extend over the bar 0, the bar a being straight. The other ends of these bars are secured to said foundation by screws 12, similarto the screws 8, and the safety-fuses Z extending from said screws to the screws 11 of the auxiliary plates 7* and secured to the slab foundation thereby, and these plates 7' have connectors r to receive the wires of the three-wire branch extending at right angles to the bars a b c. This construction provides for diverting the direction of the wires of the system and is applicable to a system composed of any number of wires.

IVhile I have only shown and described a small distribution-board, it is obvious that the same arrangement may be extended to a board of any desired size.

My improved arrangement simplifies the construction,lessens the expense, and reduces the number of parts, and consequently the time consumed for construction, and the appearance of the board is enhanced.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a distribution-board for electric circuits, the combination with the parallel maincircuit bars, of branch-circuit bars composed of flexible comparatively thin strips of metal each passing beneath and connected at one point to one of the main-circuit bars and arched upward by bonding to extend above and cross over the adjacent main-circuit bar, and connections therefor directly to the foundation of the board, and electric connections therefrom to the main and branch circuit wires, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the insulating slab foundation, of the parallel main-circuit bars a, b, c, the branch-circuit bars d, (1, upon the slab foundation and the screws '7 for securing the same and the main-circuit bars a and 0 together and to the foundation, the branch circuit bars f, upon the slab foundation, the screws 6 for securing the same and thema-incircuit bar Z) together and to the foundation, said bars fbeing arched at each side of the bar 1) to extend above and cross over the bars a and c, the screws 8 passing through the foundation and securing the free ends of the bars (1', c, and f to the foundation, and means for making electric contact with the main and branch circuit wires, substantially as set forth.

In a distribution-board for electric circuits, the combination with the parallel maincireuit bars, of branch-circuit bars composed of flexible comparatively thin strips of metal each passing beneath and connected at one point to one of the main-circuit bars and arched upward by bonding to extend above and cross over the adjacent main circuit bar, and connections therefor directly to the foundation of the board, and arched circuitbars a b from the maincircuit bars for changing the direction of the main current, and electric connections therefrom to the main and branch circuit wires, substantially as specified.

4-. The combination with the insulating slab foundation, of the parallel main-circuit bars a, b, o, the branch-circuit bars (I, 0, upon the slab foundation and the screws 7 for securing the same and the main-circuit bars a and 0 together and to the foundation, the branchcireuit bars f, upon the slab foundation, the screws 6 for securing the same and the main-- circuit bar 1) together and to the foundation, said bars f being arched at each side of the bar I) to extend above and cross over the bars a and c, the screws 8 passing through the foundation and securing the free ends of the bars (I, c, and f, to the foundation, the terminal plates m, screws 0 for securing the same to the slab foundation and the fuses 11:, I, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 11th day of November, A. D. 1896.

HAROLD IV. SlIONNAR-l).

\Vitnesses:

Gno. T, Imcxnnr, HAROLD SERRELL.

ICC 

